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They Called Us “Spartans”

Imagine this: a young couple living in a major metropolitan area. At least 5 days a week they would rise at 4:45 AM, drink their black coffee, and be at the gym by 5:30 AM. Their training sessions would then ensue and they would rush back home by 6:30. The woman in this relationship would then rush to wash her hair (DAILY), eat breakfast, slap on makeup, try to dress her best, pack her 3 meals (out of her daily 6), and leave for work by 8 while her fiance’ spent 2 hours of his morning commuting to school.

For 3 years this was their lifestyle. Weekends were for catching up with cleaning and errands. Periodic fun was to be had…. Sometimes there were evening galas or dinners in the city… But the clock was always ticking and training and diet were always on the brain.

Their friends admired them. They called them “Spartans” because of their discipline. But golly….what a busy life!

If you haven’t figured it out by now, this couple is my husband and I when we lived in New York. It was a hectic time and a stressful time, especially for me. What a relief it was when we moved and it ended. Admittedly, we continued carrying on a relatively strict regimen when we moved to London, but the level of pressure was greatly reduced. The lengthy commutes were over. Our free time had increased. And we were finally given the time and inner peace that allowed us to enjoy living in an amazing city. Due to the fact that we had a tiny fridge and kitchen, I stopped bulk cooking on Sundays and food prep became a thing of the past. (Woo hoo! I always hated that…)

Ever since then our feelings towards diet and training have softened. Longevity and moderation are bigger concerns now that we are in our 30s. Our maturity has helped us realize what’s important in life and what’s not. These days, having the ability to enjoy a few glasses of wine on the weekends is more important to me than paper-thin skin stretched over a chiseled 6-pack. Training is more fun when you’re not only concerned with how it will make you look, but when you’re concerned about whether it’s bringing you joy and making you feel good. Of course, I still enjoy the physique benefits, but they’re no longer the only benefits. I train in a way that I enjoy.

One of my new rules in life is “Don’t do things you hate.” Life is short. If I were on my deathbed tomorrow I sure as hell won’t be saying “damn, I wish I went for that 10 mile run yesterday.” I hate running. I really do. So I don’t do it. And that’s okay because it doesn’t match my goals anyways!

See?

But I wonder if it might have been necessary for us to go through that strict phase, for if we hadn’t we might not be where we are now, both physically and mentally. It seems that when most people start living a “healthy lifestyle,” they go all in, only coming to the conclusion later on that a more moderate approach could get you to the same place with a lot less stress and worry.

These days I’m trying to help other women avoid that trap of getting sucked into a crazy strict diet and training routine that potentially results in some yo-yo-ing of weight or lifestyle. You really don’t need to get that maniacal about it to see results! Trust me! (Well, unless you need those chiseled, 6-pack abs…and you need them NOW. Well, that might take some extra effort on your part.)

And don’t worry, I no longer wash my hair DAILY. It’s more of a 2-3 days per week type of thing now. (Please don’t confuse that with showering. That is done on a daily basis, thank you very much!)

Anyways, if you are interested in getting stronger, hotter, and overall healthier, but are a bit lost and don’t know how to get started, I’m here for you, girl! I remember that zone well and I was lucky that my husband (fiance’ at the time) could kind of show me the ropes. But I’ve followed all sorts of diets and training programs and I’ve had some online trainers along the way giving me guidance, so I’ve certainly gained some experience and insight through the years. If you want to bypass most of the trial and error and would like to work with me long distance, please do not hesitate to contact me. I currently offer 100% individualized programs catered to you, moderate diet coaching, and for those who like getting a little bit neurotic and nitty gritty with numbers, actual diet plans.